Manufacture of base-balls



(No Model.)

. T. P. TAYLOR.

MANUFAGTURB OBBASE BALLS.

Patented May 15,1883.

. n mus. Mmmm, www me UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE.

MNUFACTURE OF BASE-BALLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.' 277,809, dated May 15, 1883.

Application nieu March i5, lees. (No model.)

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. TAYLOR, of Bridgeport, Fairlield county, State ot' Connecticut, have invented certain Improvements in the Manufacture ot' Base-Balls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the manufacture of base-balls, as hereinafter described, whereby I am enabled to make a more solid, symmetrical, and homogeneous ball in less time and at less cost than by the ordinary modes of manufacture.

In making ordinary base-balls it is common to soak scraps of leather in water until the same are softened, then insert the same into cold dies, pressing them together, so as to form a sphere 'as compact as possible, and then dry the latter. This operation is tedious and expensive, because several days are required be- `fore the leather becomesfree from moisture, and many ofthe balls lose their shape-some. ot1 them to such an extent that the operation has to be repeated. I avoid these objections by compressing the scraps ot leather in molds and subjecting them therein to such heat as' will set them in their required shape, so that `when withdrawn the spheres are in a condition to b'e immediately covered, and are so hard and the particles so soliditied that the spheres `will not lose their shape by the handling to which they are subjected.

In carrying out my invention I may employ apparatus substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings,` in which` Figure l shows the filling devices; Fig. 2, a press for compressing the spheres, and Fig. 3a mold detached and lilled.

The dies' may be steam or oven heated. may. be of different constructions, and different modes of introducing the material into the dies may be employed. One which I. have found to be advantageous consists in applying a funnel, A, to a filler-tube, E, into which the material is forced. rlhe tube is then put upon a die, B, beneatha press, and brought beneath a plunger-die, D, which descends and compacts the material. In some instances the funnel may be applied directly to the die. rlhe plunger-die is then disconnected from the operating screw or rod and fastened by set-screws 'i or otherwise, so as to retain its position until the sphere ot' condensed material is set in shape. While different `modes of heating the material in the die may be employed, I prefer to then introbase-balls, the

be formed with a movable piece, c, the face ot' which coincides with that of the inside ot' the die, and provided with a rod, t, extending through a hole in the die and projecting beyoud the same, so that a blow upon the end ot' the pin will force the section inward and loosen the sphere. The spheres thus formed are made in a very short time, as the scraps may be used almost dry, and any moisture therein is quickly expelled, while there is no loss from their becoming disintegrated or out ot' shape. lhe spheres, after being pressed, may be wound with yarn, so as to properly confine the articles, after which the covering is applied, as usual.

It will be apparent that this mode ot'1nanufacture maybe employed with any material which can be compacted effectively in the manner described. I have found that balls of perfect shape may be thus made of leather, cloth, or cork scraps, wood shavings, waste paper, sawdust, excelsior, hair, and other Waste materials.

I claiml. The within-described method ot' making same consisting in compacting the lilling material, under pressure, in dies, and subjecting the same to heat until set in shape, and then applying` the covering tothe spheres thus toi-med, substantially as set forth. f

L. ln the manufacture ot' baseballs, the application to a section ot'a moldot'afunnel', A,

iilling the receptacle thus formed with scraps,

compressing the latter by means ot'a plunger, and then clamping the filling between the two sections ot' the mold, and subjecting the same to heat in an oven until set in shape, substantially as set forth.

3. A mold for base-balls, consisting ot' two parts, and a movable portion, c, with a projecting pin, t, substantially as set forth.

' In testimony whereofl have signedniyname to this specilication in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. P. TAYLOR.

Witnesses FRANK S. ANDREWS, CLARA E. WHITE. 

